with Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 With the tournament starting on March 28, the discussion regarding team composition has intensified. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)After a disappointing campaign last season, they are in the spotlight as experts and former players look at how the franchise can turn things around. Former Indian batsman Abhinav Mukund has now shared his thoughts on CSK’s ideal top order, suggesting a fresh and aggressive approach to fix their long-standing powerplay struggles.
CSK looking for a comeback after back-to-back failures
The Super Kings had a forgettable IPL 2025 season, finishing at the bottom of the points table with only four wins from 14 matches. The conflicts were not limited to just one department, but the inconsistency of their top order emerged as a major concern. Even in IPL 2024, the franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs, raising questions over their evolving strategy in the rapidly changing T20 landscape.
Recognizing these issues, CSK made a bold move ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. His focus became on bringing youth and dynamism to the team. One of the biggest talking points was the acquisition of sanju samsonA move that generated buzz among fans and experts alike.
Solid opening pair for IPL 2026
Mukund believes CSK should rethink their approach at the top and prioritize attacking intent in the powerplay. He has supported Samson and young talent Ayush Mhatre To open the innings for the franchise in IPL 2026.
According to Mukund, the powerplay has become the decisive phase in modern T20 cricket and teams can no longer afford slow starts. He pointed out that CSK’s opening partnerships and powerplay scores have been their weakest in recent seasons, often putting them on the backfoot at the start of games.
Mukund stressed that at least 60 runs in the first six overs are now a must and players like Samson and Mhatre have the skill to achieve this consistently. While Mhatre showed promise during his time with Mumbai, Mukund admitted that he faced some challenges on South African pitches, but still remains a highly explosive option.
“This is Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team. He desires such [aggressive] Of players. In the last few seasons, they have had the worst opening partnerships, with the worst powerplay scores. They were behind the eight ball in terms of the way they started. I think the games have turned into powerplay games, where 60 is the minimum. I think they have gone there and the biggest thing that needs to be addressed is the opening pair and they have got Sanju before the auction. So, Sanju and Mhatre are open to me,” Mukund said on ESPNcricinfo.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad at number 3
Mukund also suggested to that captain Ruturaj Gaikwad He should come in at No. 3, a position that allows him to carry the innings while maintaining pace. He believes that this combination is in line with Gaikwad’s leadership vision of creating a more aggressive and fearless batting unit. However, this approach can lead to difficult selection decisions. Mukund said that if Samson and Mhatre open, it may lead to the players getting leave. Urvil Patel Additionally, the depth and competition within the team was highlighted.
“I still think Mhatre will be as explosive as ever. He opened for Mumbai. He struggled a bit on South African pitches. But, if you have Mhatre in the team and Rutu wants to bat at number three, then unfortunately, Urvil Patel misses out.” Mukund added.
Also read: Mohit Sharma reveals his all-time CSK playing XI ahead of IPL 2026
